Draft-equalizer.



No. 825,739. PATENTED JULY l0, 1906.

F. LINDSTROM. DRAFT EQUALIZER.

APPLICATION FILED OCTA. 1905.

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UNITED STATES `PATENT OFFIOE.

DRAFT-EQUALIZER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

ratented Jury 1o, 1906.

Application filed October 4, 1905. Serial No. 281,275.

To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK LrNDsTRoM, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Marquette, in the county of McPherson vand State of Kansas, have invented anew and Improved Draft-Equalizer, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to draft-equalizers; and it consists, substantially, in the details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more particularly described, and pointed out in the claims.

The invention is intended more especially for use in agricultural machines, as binders, harvesters, both gang-plows and sulky-plows and other Wheeled structures drawn by either three, four, or five horses abreast, as the case may be.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide a draft-equalizer of an embodiment to overcome numerous disadvantages and objections encountered in the use of many other contrivances of the kind hitherto employed.

A further obj ect is to provide a draft-equalizer which is simple in construction and comaratively inexpensive to manufacture, besides being thoroughly eective and reliable in operation and possessing the capacity for long and repeated service.

The above and additional objects are attained by means substantially such as are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of a draft-equalizer embodying my improvements, showing the parts thereof adjusted or organized for the employment of five draft-animals abreast of each other 3 and Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the parts as adjusted or organized for the employment of, say, three horses abreast of each other.

Before proceeding with a more detailed description it may be stated that in the form of my improvements herein shown I employ a draft equalizer comprising a speciallyconstructed horizontally-rotatable member mounted upon the tongue or draft-beam of the wheeled structure with which my improvements may be employed, together with special means cooperating with said member for effecting the desired equalization of draft, whether three, four, or five draft-animals be employed abreast of each other, all as will presently be explained.

The embodiment of my improvement herein shown is such that in either adjustment thereof all side draft is practically overcome in the use of the equalizer, and while I have herein shown my improvements in a certain preferred form it will be understood that I am not limited thereto in precise detail, since immaterial changes therein may be made coming within the scope of my invention.

Reference being had to the drawings by the designating characters thereon, 1 represents the tongue or draft-beam of the wheeled structure (not shown) with which my improved draft-equalizer may be associated or employed. Pivotally mounted at 2 upon the said tongue or draft-beam 1 is a right-angled lever 3, the longer arm of which is indicated at 4 and the shorter arm at 5, it being noted that the pivotal point for the lever is at the junction or angle of intersection of the said longer arm and said shorter arm thereof with each other. The shorter arm 5 of the said right-angled lever 3 is provided about centrally of its length with a hole or opening 6 and at near the free end or extremity thereof with another hole or opening 7, while the said longer arm 4 of the lever is provided also with a hole or opening 8, located a suitable distance from the end thereof, (see Fig. 2,) this arm being also provided at near the free end or extremity thereof With another hole or opening (not shown) in which when but three draft-animals are to be employed with the draft-equalizer a fasteninT pin or rivet 9 may be placed or inserted for olding the clip 10, to which is pivotally applied at 11 an ordinary swingletree 12, having at the ends thereof suitable eyes 13 for the attachment of the ends of the traces of the harness of one of the draft-animals. Whenever is is desired to employ five draft-animals for propelling the wheeled structure with which my improved draft-equalizer may be employed, then the hole or opening referred to, in which is placed or inserted the said pin or rivet 9, has laced therein another pin or rivet 14, Fig. 1, or the purpose of securing to the longer arm 4 of the lever 3 an extension member 15 for said arm, this member lapping the arm for a suitable distance and being further secured thereto by means of still another in or rivet 16, passing through the aforesaid fiole or opening 8 in the arm, it being understood, of course, that the extension member 15 is provided with a hole IOO also to enable the ready detachment of the swingletree 12 from the end of the longer arm 4 of the lever 3 whenever the parts of the draft-equalizer are to be adjusted or organized for the use of five draft-animals, as shown in Fig. 1, instead of but three draftanimals, as shown in Fig. 2.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 the free end of the extension member has pivotally applied thereto at 17 a link 18, to which is pivoted at 19 a doubletree 20, having attached to the same near its ends ordinary swingletrees 21 and 22, and a thorough equali- Zation of draft is effected under this embodiment by means of a chain or cable 23, having one end thereof provided with a hook 24, which is received and held in the said opening 7 at the free end of the shorter arm 5 of the lever 3, said chain or cable 23 passing over a guide-pulley 25 therefor, supported at the rearward end of an arm 26 by a bracket v27, which is secured at 28 by means of nuts and bolts to the left side of the hereinbeforementioned tongue or draft-beam 1, the opposite side of the latter having secured thereto in any suitable way at 29 a guide 30, through which extends a diagonally-disposed rod 31 the rearward end of which is connected at 32 with the vforward end of the said chain 23 and the forward end of which is movably held by an eye 33, secured to the rearward face of lan ordinary whifiietree 34, having applied to the end thereof at the right of the tongue or draft-beam 1 a link 35, to which is connected at 36 a doubletree 37, carrying swingletrees 38 and 39 at Athe ends thereof in a manner well understood. To the end of the whiffletree at the left of the tongue or draft-beam 1 is similarly applied a link 40, carrying a swingletree 41, it being understood that the three swin letrees last mentioned are each provide at the ends thereof with means for attachment thereto of the ends of the traces of the several draft-animals employed under this embodiment of my improvements.

Whenever it is desired to employ but three draft-animals in connection with my improved draft-equalizer, the extension meml ber 15 is detached from'the longer arm 4 of the right-angled lever 3 and the hereinbeforementioned swingletree attached to the endof said longer arm, as already explained. At the same time the hook 24 is disconnected from the free end or extremity of the shorter arm 5 of the lever and inserted in the hole or opening 6 of this arm, as shown in Fig. 2, it

being noted that /the guide-pulley 25 for the 65 chain 23 is also at this time removed from the support therefor at the rearward end of the arm 26 of bracket 27 and the spindle for the pulley mounted in a bearing 42, provided therefor in said arm 26 a considerable distance forwardly of the arm. Under this embodiment of my improvements Ialso instead of passing or extending the rod 31 through the guide 30, as mentioned in connection with the embodiment shown in Fig. 1,41 employ another guide 43 therefor, secured in any suitable manner at 44 to the left side of the tongue'or draft-beam 1, it being further noted that the forward end of said rod 31 is connected with an eye 44a, secured centrally between the ends of a doubletree 45, having applied to the ends thereof suitable swingletrees 46 and 47. It will thus be seen that when five draft-animals are employed in connection with the wheeled structure with which my improved draft-equalizer may be associated the longer arm 4 of the lever 3 is made still longer by the attachment thereto of the extension member 15, while at the same time the connection of the chain 23 with the shorter arm 5 of the lever is ata v greater distance from the pivot or center upon which the lever turns than is the case in the employment of but three draft-animals when the extension member 15 of the shorter varm 4 of the lever 3 isdetached and the rearward end of the chain 23 connected to the shorter arm 5 of the lever by the insertion of the hook 24 in the hole or opening 6 of said arm, which thus practically makes the arm 5 still shorter than is employed in the manner shown in Fig. 1. my improved draft-equalizer is employed on a plow the loops 30 and 43 will be secured to some part of the equalizer itself instead of to the tongue 1.

.Having thus described my invention, I

claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A draft-equalizer, comprising a draftbeam, a horizontally-rotatable right-angled lever mounted thereon, having a draft appliance at the en d of one of the arms thereof, a guide on one side of said beam, airod extending diagonally through the guide, having a draft appliance at the forward end thereof, a chain connecting the other arm of said lever with the rearward end of the rod, a guide for the chain, and means on the beam for supporting this guide.

2. A draft-equalizer, comprising a draft-` beam, 'a horizontally-rotatable right-angled4 lever mounted thereon, having a draft appliance at the end of one of the arms thereof,- guides on opposite sides of the beam, a rodg extending through one of said guides diag-v onally, having a draft appliance at its forward.A end, a chain connecting the other arm ofthe.`

It may be added that wheny IOO ILO

lever with the rearward end of the rod, a guide for the chain, and means on the beam for supporting the guide.

3. A draft-equalizer, comprising a draftbeam, a horizontally-rotatable right-angled lever mounted thereon, having a draft appliance at the end of one of the arms thereof., guides on opposite sides of the beams, a rod extending through one of the guides diagonal to the beam, having a draft appliance at its forward end, a chain connecting the other arm of the lever with the rearward end of the rod, a guide-pulley for the chain, and means on the beam for supporting the pulley.

4. A draft-equalizer, comprising a draftbeam, a horizontally-rotatable right-angled lever mounted thereon, having a draft appliance at the end of one of the arms thereof, a guide on one side of said beam, a rod extending diagonally through the guide, havin(T a draft appliance at the forward end thereof, a chain connecting the other arm of said lever with the rearward end of the rod, a guide for the chain, and means on the beam for supporting this guide, the arms of the lever being of unequal lengths.

5. A draft-equalizer, comprising a draftbeam, a horizontally-rotatable right-angled lever mounted thereon, having a draft appliance at the end of one of the arms thereof, guides on opposite sides of the beam, a rod extending through one of said guides diagonally, having a draft appliance at its forward end, a chain connecting the other arm of the lever with the rearward end of the rod, a guide for the chain, and means on the beam for supporting the guide, the arms of the lever being of unequal lengths.

6, A draft-equalizer, comprising a draft-- beam, a horizontally-rotatable right-angled lever mounted thereon, having a draft appliance at the end of one of the arms thereof, guides on opposite sides of the beams, a rod extending through one of the guides diagonal to the beam, having a draft appliance at its forward end, a chain connecting the other arm of the lever with the rearward end of the rod, a guide-pulley for the chain, and means on the beam for supporting the pulley, the arms of the lever being of unequal lengths.

7. A draft-equalizer, comprising a draftbeam, a horizontally-rotatable right-angled lever mounted thereon, having a draft `appliance at the end of one of the arms thereof, a guide on one side of said beam, a rod extending diagonally through the guide, having a draft appliance at the forward end thereof, a chain connecting the other arm of said lever with the rearward end of the rod, a guide for the chain, and means on the beam for supporting this guide, the arms of the lever being of unequal lengths and the longer one provided with a detachable extension member.

8. A draft-equalizer, comprising a draftbeam, a horizontally-rotatable right-angled lever mounted thereon, having a draft appliance at the end of one of the arms thereof, guides on opposite sides of the beam, a rod extending through one of said guides diagonally, having a draft appliance at its forward end, a chain connecting the other arm of the lever with the rearward end of the rod, a guide for the chain, and means on the beam for supporting the guide, the arms of the lever being of unusual lengths and the longer one provided with a detachable extension member.

9. A draft-equalizer, comprising a draftbeam, a horizontally-rotatable right-angled lever mounted thereon, having a draft appliance at the end of one of the arms thereof, a guide on one side of said beam, a rod extending diagonally through the guide, havin a draft appliance at the forward end thereo a chain connecting the other arm of said lever with the rearward end of the rod, a guide for the chain, and means on the beam for supporting this guide, the arms of the lever being of unequal lengths and the shorter one having holes at the end and practically the central portion thereof, respectively.

10. A draft-equalizer, comprising a draftbeam, a horizontally-rotatable right-angled lever mounted thereon, having a draft appliance at the end of one of the arms thereof, guides on opposite sides of the beam, a rod extending through one of said guides diagonally, having a draft appliance at its forward end, a chain connecting the outer arm of the lever with the rearward end of the rod, a guide for the chain, and means on the beam for supporting the guide, the arms of the lever being of unequal lengths and the shorter one having holes at the end and practically the central portion thereof, respectively.

l1. A draft-equalizer, comprising a draftbeam, a horizontally-rotatable right-angled lever mounted thereon, having a draft appliance at the end of one of the arms thereof, a guide on one side of said beam, a rod extending diagonally through the guide, havin a draft appliance at the forward end thereof, a chain connecting the other arm of said lever with the rearward end of the rod, a guide for the chain, and means on the beam for supporting this guide, embodying a bracket having a rearwardly-extending arm having bearings for the guide at its rear end and middle portion, respectively.

12. A draft-equalizer, comprising a draftbeam, a horizontally-rotatable right-angled lever mounted thereon, having a draft appliance at the end of one of the arms thereof,

guides on opposite sides of the beam, a rod IIO extending through one of said guides diagonally, having a draft appliance at its forward end, a chain connecting the other arm of the lever With the rearward end of the rod, a '-name to this specification in the presence of guide for the chain, and means oi tle beam tWo subscribing witnesses. for supporting the guide, em 0 ying a bracket having a Irearwardly-extending arm FRANK LINDSTROM' 5 having bearings for the guide at its rear end Witnesses:

and middle portion, respectively. R. A. THOMPSON, In testimony whereof I have signed my OLAF LARSEN. 

